It’s been said that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

And if you’re hosting Thanksgiving next week, this sentiment rings oh-so-true. From faulty, unreliable plumbing to AC issues, to ovens with hot spots or outlets that short, there are a lot of things that can – and often do – go wrong if a little thoughtful attention isn’t paid before the guests come pouring through your doors.

Thankfully, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so being proactive will save you – and your sanity – from the chaos that will ensue if you instead have to be reactive.

Last week, we talked about 10 ways to prep your home for Thanksgiving and its guests. This week, we’ll share some tips and tricks to help you baton the hatches for Thanksgiving ground zero: your kitchen.

1. Check Your Cookware and Kitchen Tools

Make sure you have all the cookware and kitchen tools you’ll need to prepare dinner before you begin. Think: roasting pan, pie dishes, meat thermometer, aluminum trays, cookie sheets, and more. Take inventory and figure out what you need now.

2. Check Your Appliances

Thanksgiving is Super Bowl for appliances so while they may work well throughout the year, this is their big day – and you want to make sure they leave it all out on the field so you can walk away with a ‘W’ on the board. 

Consider these anticipatory appliance to-dos:

• Use the self-cleaning function – and some elbow grease – on your oven to clean it before Thanksgiving.
• Make sure your dishwasher is empty and ready to fill.
• Test your oven’s temperature with a portable thermometer to make sure you can trust its thermostat.
• For gas stoves, make sure the burners are clog-free and there is no visible obstruction.
• Check that your exhaust fan working for maximum ventilation.
• Your microwaves might need a wipe-down inside and make sure the rotating place is on its track.

Don’t be a statistic: Friendly reminder that according to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the leading day for home fires involving cooking equipment, with four times the average number. Three out of five of those fires are caused by ranges or cook-tops. 

3. Prep Your Fridge & Freezer.

You’ll need as much room as possible for storing food before the big day and for storing leftovers after so move sodas, wine and beer into coolers, toss anything that’s past its prime, and remove any large condiments. Think about the size of many of the trays it will need to accommodate and prep accordingly. 

4. Countertops

Clear all countertops to maximize your workspace and food dropzone. Move anything that usually lives on the counter elsewhere to get all the room you’ll need. Clean the counters before you start cooking and be sure to clean as you go to make less work for yourself after the meal when you’re exhausted from hosting the best Thanksgiving ever.

5. Utensils and More

If you’ll be using your fine china, consider setting up a staging area near your kitchen to inventory your supply to make sure you have enough plates for the main course and dessert, as well as flatware for all guests, and to make sure they’re cleaned and polished before guests arrive.

BONUS TIP: Though it’s not technically the kitchen, consider setting the table the day before for one less thing you have to do on Thanksgiving.

Remember that the key to hosting a Super-Bowl-of-Thanksgiving is making sure your kitchen is ready for anything that comes its way. And speaking of things coming your way, make sure you let us know what time to show up!

Because at DeLeon Sheffield Company, ‘We’re More Than Realty; We’re Family.’